Sending form information to "printer friendly" page

[shaneH]

I'm sure this is simple but the answer eludes me.

I have a form that the customer fills out, which is then validated if there is an error they are directed to correct the information. Both the main entry page and the validation page are loaded dynamically (i.e. <a href="index.php?page=myform"> and action="index.php?page=valform"). The validation form checks the information and if there is an error the form then "includes" the original form with customers entered data and indicates what information is incorrect. But if the information is correct I would like to have the information load into a new page that is "printer friendly".

I don't think the code is needed but here it is any way

<?php
function isDigits($element) {
  return !preg_match ("/[^0-9]/", $element);
}

function isLetters($element) {
  return !preg_match ("/[^A-z]/", $element);
}

function checkLength($string, $min, $max) {
  $length = strlen ($string);
  if (($length < $min) || ($length > $max)) {
    return FALSE;
  } else {
    return TRUE;
  }
}

function checkPhone($code){

$code = preg_replace("/[\s|-]/", "", $code);
$length = strlen ($code);
if (($length <> 10) && ($length <> 11)) {
    return FALSE;
}
return isDigits($code);
}

$valid = TRUE;

if (isset ($_POST['submit'])) {
    foreach($_POST as $key=>$value) {
      $$key = $value;
    }

$valid = $fn = checkLength($fname, 1, 30);
$ln = checkLength($lname, 1, 30);
$valid = $valid && $ln;
$pn = checkPhone($phone);
$valid = $valid && $pn;
$st = checkLength($street1, 7, 50);
$valid = $valid && $st;
$cty = checkLength($city, 5, 50);
$valid = $valid && $cty;
$sp = checkLength($state, 2, 50);
$valid = $valid && $sp;
$ac = checkLength($country, 2, 50);
$valid = $valid && $ac;
$zp = checkLength($zipcode, 5, 50);
$valid = $valid && $zp;
$msg = checkLength($notes, 5, 500);
$valid = $valid && $msg;
if ($valid) 
	{
//have a new page load with the forms contents that is "printer friendly"
	}
}
else
	{
    $fn = $ln = $pn = $st = $cty = $sp = $ac = $zp = $msg = TRUE;
    $fname = $lname = $street1 = $street2 = $city = $state = $country = $zipcode = $notes = '';
	}
if (!$valid)
	{
//include the form with all errors indicated
	}
?>

[Roger_Ramjet]

And the question is ??

[TheDefender]

Shane, you have all of the variables defined. At this point, it's a matter of coding the HTML side of things to just echo them out using the [man]echo[/man] command into a table, or something, to get them on the page where you want. I too, am not sure what kind of problem you have, or what you need help with, because the hard part is done.

[shaneH]

I guest my question is a little unclear, sorry.

Once the form is validated I cannot seem to figure out how to get the information to load into a new page that is not dynamically "included" inside of my sites structure (style).

Here is how the things work in basic all pages in my site are linked like so <a href="index.php?page=somepage"> and in the main content area of the index.php page there is the php that will include the correct page after making sure that page is in a predefined array (for security). Now my problem occurs in that I cannot just do a basic "include" in the "if ($valid){ }" nor can I just place the html with the information entered via an "echo" statement into the validation page because the validation page is also dynamically included like the other pages in my site so that if the information is incorrect (if (!$valid){ }) the customer is directed to fix the errors before going to the printer friendly page.

In basic my dynamically included validation must redirect the customer to a page that it generates that is not dynamically "included" (i.e. include (myform.php)) in the main part of my site so that the customer can print the information without the graphics or styling, that look nasty when printed.

I hope that clears things up, and if not I'll try again.

[shaneH]

I hope my preceding post cleared up my question, if not let me know. I am still trying to figure this out.

[Roger_Ramjet]

Well now, here's an answer, but it may not be the one you want. Everything you are doing here could be done in javascript on the input page before submission.

In a client-server environment validating user input BEFORE passing it to the server is the correct approach. Saves time for the user and resources on the server. I posted an example of a javascript validation function here yesterday somewhere if you don't know where to start: search for it to see what I mean if you don't understand.

Of course, you still have to guard against malicious input.

[Roger_Ramjet]

In your case the data is not being run at through a db so malicious input is not a problem. Having validated the data you can simply post it to the print page taget script and display.

[shaneH]

May be this is a simpler way of asking the question.

If <a href=somepage.php> is a static link and <a href=index.php?page=somepage> is a dynamic include link how could I get php to load a static link that has not been clicked on while passing my feild values to that page.

It's easy to create the printer friendly page if after validation I have the customer click on a link to that would take them to the printer friendly version. But I would rather try to make it as convienent as possible for the customer by having that page just load automatically.

[TheDefender]

It sounds like you are trying to overcomplicate things Shane...

Let's go here:

if ($valid)  

        { 
    //have a new page load with the forms contents that is "printer friendly"
include('./printerfriendlypage.php'); 
        } 
    } 

Then on the printer friendly page, display your contents as you desire. If it's included, the variables will be available from the main page to the included page. Even your "simpler way to ask" really sounds like you are overcomplicating it (unless I am missing something)

[shaneH]

I think I have failed to communicate the problem.

I am presently testing and improving using an "include" but printing it is not that pretty of a sight.

I would paste the index.php page code here to give you an idea of how complex this sites design is but I don't think anyone wants to see my 170 line of code.

I need a way to get rid of all the graphics, styles and banner ads that load at the top and right side of the page. And the only way is to get php to load a static page. My only other alternative is to have the customer click a link that takes them to a printer friendly page but I would like to make the process as painless as possible for the customer.

[spighita]

Do you want to print something different from what appears on the screen.

If yes, you might want to look into css.

<LINK rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="print.css" media="print">

And then on the properties of the graphics use the display: none

You can adjust it to look very nice for print purpose instead of having to redirect him to a new page.

[Roger_Ramjet]

Good answer spighita.

Shane, you may want to look at this to see how one goes about using different style sheets for the same content with different media types, like screen, or print, or aural. Guide to CSS

[CDragon]

Dunno if this problem still exists for you, but I did a similar thing.

What you do is make a query string link from the form output, and redirect the browser to a "printable.php" file. Then in the "printable.php" file, use the data supplied by the query string to populate the page.

What I mean is:
1) Put the form variables into a query redirect:
header ("Location: http://yourdomain/printable.php?var1=".$var1."&var2=".$var2......)
Other options include just making a link for users to click.

2) On "printable.php"
This is Variable 1: <br /><?php print $var1; ?>